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College Students Urged to Protect Identity

Wisconsin consumer protection officials are advising college students to be especially vigilant about protecting their private identity information.

The Federal Trade Commission says one in five identity theft victims are in their 20s. And for college students focused on class schedules and navigating a new environment, protecting their identity might not be a priority.

Consumer protection administrators urge student to shred school registration forms, health insurance documents, bank and credit card statements, even credit card offers that arrive in the mail. They say students should consider buying a lock box for sensitive documents or items, such as a passport or credit card.

Students are also encouraged to contact the university's tech department for any guidance on how to protect web-enabled devices before connecting to the campus network.

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